Placemat and coaster set

ABSTRACT

A placemat and coaster set comprises one placemat ( 1 ) and one coaster ( 2 ) having fastening means by which they are detachably connected together. The fastening means may comprise, for example, a press fastener or fastener, Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) or the like, or a locking tag ( 17 ) on one ( 2 ) of the items which engages in a slot ( 15 ) in the other item ( 1 ). A header card ( 3 ) and/or hanging device may be attached to the set, also by fastening means which may be the fastening means by which the placemat and coaster are detachably connected together. The placemat and coaster may bear graphics which form a complete picture, e.g. a caricature of a person or a cartoon character or article, when the two are connected together. The graphics may outline a picture or pictures which the purchaser and/or user of the set may colour the colouring, for which colouring aids may be provided with the set, being able to be removed subsequently when the set is cleaned after use.

[0001] This invention relates to a placemat and coaster set.

[0002] Placemats and coasters are usually sold in packs of several of them together, commonly four, six or more of each in a pack. They are usually sold in boxes in which they may be stored when not in use.

[0003] Purchasers do not always need to have several of the placemats and coasters. Single people, for example, may feel the need only for one of each. People in a family or group may prefer to have their own individual placemats and coasters, possibly of a different design from those of others.

[0004] According to the present invention a placemat and coaster set is provided which comprises one of each item, the two items having mating fastening means by which they are detachably connected together.

[0005] The placemat and coaster may be connected together for sale and for storing away when not in use.

[0006] The placemat and coaster may be of any desired form, shape and/or design. They may be similar apart from size or they may be different. Various materials may be used. In a preferred embodiment they are made of a durable, hygienic and dishwasher proof plastics sheet material, for example polypropylene.

[0007] The fastening means may take the various forms. The means may, for example, comprise a press fastener, or fasteners, Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) or the like, or a locking tag on one of either the placemat or the coaster and a slot in the other with which the locking tag is detachably engageable. Preferably, in this latter arrangement, the tag is formed integrally with the placemat or coaster, as the case may be. Conveniently the tag is formed on the coaster, and the slot is in the placemat. The tag may have an arrow-head form larger than the slot so that positive manipulation is required to engage the tag in and release it from the slot. The tag and/or slot may take other forms which enable an interconnection to be provided between the placemat and coaster which is secure but can be readily released by manipulation of the items.

[0008] A header card and/or hanging device may be attached to the set for the purposes of display of the set for sale or for storage of the set. The header card and/or hanging device may be attached to the placemat in similar manner to the coaster, for example by a locking tag on the one engaging detachably in a slot of the other. The fastening means by which the placemat and coaster are detachably connected together may also attach the header card and/or hanging device to the set.

[0009] The coaster and the header card and/or hanging device may attach to different parts of the placemat, for example the header card and/or hanging device to a top part of the placemat and the coaster to a lower part.

[0010] The above-mentioned tag of the placemat or coaster, and the tag of the placemat or the header card and/or hanging device if provided, may be adapted to allow the coaster, and header card and/or hanging device, to be folded flat against the placemat when the set is not in use, for ease of storage or packaging. The, or each, tag may be formed with a hinge, for example a crease or living hinge, to allow the desired folding.

[0011] In order to add interest or appeal to the set, the placemat and coaster may bear graphics which form a complete picture when the placemat and coaster are connected together. The complete picture may depict any variety of subjects and the coaster may be attached to the placemat in whatever position is appropriate to achieve the desired completed picture. For example, the complete picture they form may be a caricature of a person, cartoon character, creature or bird. In such a picture the placemat may depict a large head and the coaster a small body. The coaster at least, may depict a complete picture when it is separated from the placemat. For example, if the coaster has the tag and depicts a body to attach to a head depicted on the placemat, the tag may depict a head of the body, which may be in proportion to the body.

[0012] In another embodiment a picture, or pictures may be outlined on the placemat and coaster which a purchaser and/or user of the set may colour, for example by crayons or paints. Colouring aids may be provided with the set as sold. When the placemat and coaster are made, as preferred, of a durable, hygienic and dishwasher proof plastics sheet material, such as polypropylene, such colouring of the picture or pictures may be washed away when the set is washed, leaving the placemat and coaster ready to be coloured again.

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a placemat and coaster set in accordance with the present invention connected together;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of items of the set of FIG. 1 separated;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a front view of a second embodiment of a placemat and coaster set in accordance with the invention showing the placemat and coaster connected together;

[0017]FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of fastening means of the set of FIG. 3;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a front view of the set of FIGS. 3 and 4 showing the coaster and a header card folded against the placemat;

[0019]FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragmentary front views of a third embodiment of a placemat and coaster set in accordance with the invention respectively showing the items separated and connected, and

[0020]FIG. 8 is a front view of a further embodiment of a placemat and coaster set in accordance with the invention showing the items connected together.

[0021] In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a placemat 1 and a coaster 2 are of a similar design. They are cut from sheet polypropylene of a thickness such that while having flexibility they retain a substantially stiff flat form.

[0022] The placemat 1 has a stud component 3 of a press fastener 4 fixed to it, and the coaster 2 has a mating socket component 5 of the press fastener fixed to it. The two components 3, 5 of the press fastener 4 are fixed adjacent to, and centrally of, one edge of the placemat and coaster. They are fixed in position by rivets 6 which are as flat as possible at the opposite surfaces of the placemat and coaster from the fastener components, so as to protrude as little as possible from those surfaces.

[0023] When the placemat and coaster are attached together by the interengagement of the components 3, 5 of the press fastener 4 they lie substantially flat against one another, normally so that the coaster is overlying the placemat, within the perimeter of the placemat.

[0024] For the purposes of display of the set for sale, a header card 7 is attached between the placemat and coaster by the fastener 4. The header card comprises a holder 8, made of stiff clear sheet plastics material, and a card proper 9 bonded to the holder on which information about the placemat and coaster set is printed. The holder 8 has a tab 10 formed with a central hole 11 through which the stud and socket components 3,5 of the press fastener attach together, thereby fastening the header card 7 between and to the items of the set. The header card projects from the adjacent edge of the placemat. A slot 12 formed in the holder 8 enables the header card to be attached to a hook, peg or other suitable retainer on a display board or stand.

[0025] Instead of the header card 7, a hook, loop or other suitable device for hanging the set on a support may be similarly attached to the set by the press fastener.

[0026] The placemat and coaster can be readily separated at the fastener for use. When the set is not in use the two items may be attached together again at the fastener, with or without the header card.

[0027] The placemat and coaster can be easily cleaned after use by means of a cloth, or they may be washed in a dishwasher.

[0028] It will be understood that the set may be very easily and cheaply made, and that it satisfies the needs of an individual who wishes just to have one placemat and coaster for his or her own use.

[0029] In the second embodiment as illustrated by FIGS. 3 to 5, a placemat 1 and a coaster 2, and also a header card 13, are cut from sheet polypropylene as before. The placemat 1 and coaster 2 are cut and printed, black on a white background, to depict respectively a large head and a small body of a cartoon animal. The header card 13 is printed with information about the set.

[0030] For some pictures, it may be desirable for the sheet material of the placemat and coaster, or at least of the coaster as in this embodiment, to have clear and transparent portions 14 around the depiction so as to provide the item with a practical surface area even if the depiction occupies a more limited area.

[0031] Centrally at the bottom and top of the depicted head the placemat 1 is formed with a bottom slot 15 and a top slot 16, both slots being relatively small and extending transversely of the depicted head. The coaster 2 is formed at the top of the depicted body with an integral tag 17, best seen in FIG. 4, of arrow-head shape which is detachably engageable in the bottom slot 15. At the bottom of the header card 3 is formed a similar integral tag 18 of arrow-head shape which is detachably engageable with the top slot 16. The arrow-heads of the two tags 17, 18 are wider than the lengths of the respective slots so that they have to be positively manipulated into and out of engagement with the slots. Thus, when they are engaged in the slots the tags will not readily become unintentionally detached from the slots.

[0032] Ordinarily, when attached to the placemat, the coaster extends from the bottom of the depicted head and so the complete cartoon animal is depicted, giving the connected items of the set an interesting appearance. The header card extends from the top of the depicted head of the placemat. A hanging slot 19 is formed centrally in the upper part of the header card 13 for the set to be hung on a hook of a display stand for the connected placemat and coaster to be clearly seen.

[0033] The header card may be discarded after the set has been sold, or it may possibly be retained for hanging the set when not in use.

[0034] Each tag 17,18 is formed with a crease 20,21 adjacent its root which serves as a hinge enabling the coaster and header card, as the case may be, to be folded flat onto the placemat for compact storing, or packaging of the set.

[0035] In another form, the tag 18 of the header card 13 may be extended so that it can be looped through the top slot 16 and its arrow-head engaged with a retaining slot in the header card near the root of the tag.

[0036] The placemat and coaster are printed black on white so that the head and body of the cartoon animal they depict may be coloured, as by crayons or paints, by the user of the set to add further to the interest content of the set.

[0037] The set may be washed clean, for example in a dishwasher. Washing the set will remove colouring applied by crayons or paints, so that the placemat and coaster may be re-coloured, if desired, subsequently.

[0038] The third embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings in which parts similar to those of the second embodiment just described are indicated by similar reference numbers. In this case an integral tag 17 of the coaster 2 depicts the head of the body of a cartoon character depicted on the main part of the coaster, as shown in FIG. 6, so that the coaster depicts the complete character when separated from the placemat 1. The placemat depicts the same head but to a much larger scale. Therefore the same character is depicted when the coaster is connected to the placemat 1, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0039] The tag 17 engages with a slot 15 in the placemat which is of a cranked form so that an intermediate portion 15′ is offset from end portions 15″ of the slot. The length of the slot 15 is sufficient to allow the widest part of the tag, i.e. at the ears of the depicted head on the tag, to be inserted into the slot. Once through the slot, the tag is manipulated to manoeuvre the narrower root part of the tag, i.e. at the neck of the depicted head, into the offset intermediate portion 15′ of the slot, thereby positively retaining the tag in engagement with the slot.

[0040] Instead of a set in which the coaster attaches to the bottom of the depicted picture of the placemat, a set may be provided in which the coaster attached to another part of the depicted picture of the placemat, as, for example, in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 8. In this embodiment the coaster 2 attaches to the top of the depicted picture of the placemat 2. The placemat depicts a cartoon railway steam engine and the coaster depicts a cloud of steam. At the bottom of the depicted cloud of steam the coaster is formed with an integral tag 17 which is detachably engageable in a slot 16 of the placemat at the top of the depicted steam engine so that the cloud of steam appears to be issuing from the chimney of the steam engine. The tag 17 and the slot 16 are similar to the tag 17 and top slot 16 respectively of the foregoing third embodiment. 

1. A placemat and coaster set which comprises one of each said item, said two items having mating fastening means by which they are detachably connected together.
 2. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 1 in which said placemat and coaster differ in size but are similar in shape and/or design.
 3. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 1 in which said placemat and coaster differ in size, shape and design.
 4. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 3 in which said placemat and coaster bear graphics which form a complete picture when said placemat and coaster are connected together.
 5. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 4 in which said placemat and coaster bear graphics which respectively depict a large head and a small body.
 6. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 4 in which at least said coaster depicts a complete picture when it is separated from said placemat.
 7. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 1 in which the said coaster has a part of said fastening means bearing graphics such that said graphics of said coaster and said part of said fastening means in combination depict the complete picture to be obtained when said placemat and coaster are connected together.
 8. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 1 in which said placemat and coaster bear graphics which outline a picture or pictures on said placemat and coaster which a purchaser and/or user of the set may colour.
 9. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 8 in which colouring aids are provided with the set for colouring said picture or pictures outlined by said graphics.
 10. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 8 or claim 9 in which said placemat and coaster are made of a material from which the colouring applied by the purchaser and/or user to said picture or pictures may be washed away.
 11. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 1 in which said placemat and said coaster are made of a durable, hygienic and dishwasher proof plastics sheet material.
 12. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 11 in which said plastics sheet material is polypropylene.
 13. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 1 in which said fastening means comprises a press fastener or fasteners.
 14. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 1 in which said fastening means comprises Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) or the like.
 15. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 1 in which said fastening means comprises a locking tag on one of said placemat and said coaster and a slot in the other of said placemat and said coaster with which said locking tag is detachably engageable.
 16. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 15 in which said locking tag is formed integrally with said item on which it is provided.
 17. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 15 or claim 16 in which said locking tag has an arrow-head form larger than said slot so that positive manipulation is required to engage said tag in and release it from said slot.
 18. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 1 in which a header card and/or hanging device is/are provided attached to the set for the purposes of display of the set for sale or for storage of the set.
 19. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 18 in which said header card and/or hanging device are/is attached to said placemat in similar manner to said coaster.
 20. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 18 in which said fastening means attaches said header card and/or hanging device to said placemat and coaster.
 21. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 15 in which said locking tag is adapted to allow said coaster to be folded flat against said placemat when the set is not in use.
 22. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 18 in which a locking tag is provided on one of said placemat and said header card and/or hanging device and a slot is provided in the other of said placemat and said header card and/or hanging device with which said locking tag is adapted to allow said header card and/or hanging device to be folded flat against said placemat when the set is not in use.
 23. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 21 in which said locking tag is formed with a hinge to allow the desired folding.
 24. A placemat and coaster set according to claim 22 in which said locking tag is formed with a hinge to allow the desired folding. 